'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UFC 255 wasn’t garnering too much hype going in, probably because it didn’t feature any of the UFC’s major stars, and there have been so many UFC shows in recent weeks.
As a show, though, it was just about passable. The prelims were largely fantastic, with a bunch of entertaining scraps. However, the main card turned into somewhat of a slog in the middle before UFC Flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo largely saved the show.
Here are the best and worst moments from UFC 255: Figueiredo vs. Perez.
#1 Best: Figueiredo might be the UFC’s latest dominant champ
UFC 255’s main event pitted reigning UFC Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo against top-ranked challenger Alex Perez. And while many people were picking Figueiredo to win, it wasn’t expected to be easy.
When it came down to it, though, that’s just what The God of War made this fight look. It took him just under two minutes to submit Perez, picking up his first successful UFC title defense in the process.
At least, Perez came to fight and hit Figueiredo with a big body kick before hunting for a takedown. But showing off his underrated ground game once again, the Brazilian countered by dropping for a heel hook before suddenly switching to an arm-in guillotine when Perez attempted to scramble.
The brilliance here was the way in which Figueiredo finished the hold. Rather than wrench back, he pulled tightly to Perez’s shoulders, ensuring the choke was too tight to escape even as the challenger attempted to pop his head free.
This was a message to the rest of the UFC’s Flyweight division, basically. Not only does Figueiredo hit harder than any other fighter in the division, but he clearly has possibly the best ground game too. We could well be seeing the next dominant UFC champion in action, and it’ll be awesome to see how long he can hold onto the belt.
#1 Worst: Royval’s chances of a title shot go up in unlucky smoke
The prelim card's main event last night saw Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval go to war, and the word was that the winner would receive a shot at the UFC Flyweight title. Well, the fight lived up to the billing and was exciting, but you’ve got to feel for Royval in terms of how it ended.
After some back-and-forth action, Moreno found himself on top, and suddenly, he began to land unanswered punches as Royval rolled onto his side. Seconds later, the fight was over, as Raw Dawg looked to be in serious pain.
A replay revealed his shoulder had dislocated, and to me, it didn’t appear that Moreno had really done anything to cause it. More to the point, just moments after the fight, Royval’s coach had popped his arm back into its socket – suggesting it’s a reoccurring injury.
Moreno will quite rightly take his shot at UFC Flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo next, assuming the UFC doesn’t pull any shenanigans. But you’ve got to feel for Royval. This was an unfortunate circumstance that probably robbed him of a fair chance of winning and claiming a title opportunity of his own.
#2 Best: Shevchenko continues to reach new levels of greatness
Okay, so I’d be lying if I said that Valentina Shevchenko’s win over Jennifer Maia was exciting. The UFC Flyweight champion actually lost a round this time, as Maia grounded her for the majority of the second stanza. But for the most part, she outclassed the Brazilian and retained her title comfortably.
However, while the fight was a slog to watch thanks to Shevchenko not being able to really hurt Maia, it was still impressive. Maia appeared to be the first opponent at 125lbs to be able to match The Bullet for physical strength, but she was still taken down on numerous occasions and easily outstruck on the feet.
Shevchenko is quickly reaching that spot occupied by previous dominant UFC champions like Georges St. Pierre and Demetrious Johnson. The big question nowadays isn’t whether she’ll beat her opponent - it’s exactly how she’ll do it.
It looks like Jessica Andrade will probably be next for The Bullet, and does anyone really think Bate Estaca can win? I certainly don’t. Shevchenko’s style might not be the flashiest at times, but whenever she steps into the Octagon, you can’t help but believe that you’re about to witness greatness in action.
#2 Worst: Former UFC champ Shogun is done
Mauricio Shogun Rua is a former PRIDE and UFC Light Heavyweight champ, and in his heyday – any time between 2005 and 2010 – he was one of the most feared fighters on the planet. Today though, at the age of 38, Shogun is a broken down shadow of his former self.
Various injuries, surgeries, and beatings in the Octagon have caught up with him, and last night’s fight with Paul Craig may have seen him hit a new low.
He simply couldn’t get any offense going, was taken down on multiple occasions by Scotland’s Craig, gassed out, and eventually had to tap out to strikes when Bearjew trapped him on the ground.
When you consider Craig’s somewhat wild, wide-open style, I don’t think it’s offensive to suggest that he would’ve been easy pickings for Shogun in, say, 2006. But 2006 is now 14 years ago.
Last month saw Anderson Silva retire from MMA, and in all honesty, his countryman should probably join him after this fight. Father Time is an impossible opponent for even the greatest UFC legend to defeat, and he’s almost certainly caught up with Shogun at this point.
#3 Best: Buckley shows he’s no one-hit-wonder
UFC Middleweight Joaquin Buckley quickly went viral last month when he knocked out Impa Kasanganay with one of the best spinning back kicks in UFC history. The big question surrounding New Mansa’going into last night’s show was whether he actually had the skills to follow such a crazy KO up.
Well, his win over Jordan Wright wasn’t flawless, but he definitely showed UFC fans that he’s no one-hit-wonder.
Buckley took some shots and was a bit too straight-forward in terms of his striking style. But he’s clearly got power, and he used it to spark Wright out at the end of the first round. The fight could’ve been stopped there, but ref Herb Dean allowed it to go into the second round.
It didn’t matter, though, as Buckley swarmed Wright from the off with a left hook and knocked him silly just 18 seconds into the stanza – picking up his second KO win in as many months.
How far Buckley can actually go in the UFC is a question mark, but the truth is that it doesn’t really matter. He’s winning fights in entertaining fashion, and what more can you ask for, really?
